These guys have figured out how to close games. In their last six games, where they are 5-1, they have only lost a fourth quarter once. And that was on a no-bearing quarter that they entered with a 19-point lead over UE.
In four games that they entered the fourth quarter with a deficit, they were 3-1. In the three wins, they won the fourth quarter. In the loss, they were merely held to a fourth quarter tie.
In the last two games, they’ve entered the 4th with deficits of 7 (against DLSU) and 8 (against FEU). They won both games by holding their opponents to single digits in scoring in the fourth.
They’ve got a pretty good bench, too. In every game this season, they have had a bench player score in double-digits. On two occasions, they have had multiple bench players score in double-digits. They had three guys with 10 or more against UP and two bench players in double-digits against UE. They have also had a bench player score 20 or more points once.
In four games this season, they were led in scoring by a bench player. They won all four games.
The Adamson bench has outscored the Adamson starters only twice. But both times, then bench outscored the starters by 20 or more. Against UP, the bench scored 44 points to the starters’ 22. In their last game against FEU, the bench led 42-22.
if you think about it the core group of players composed of alvarez, canada, nuyles, colina, camson and the system of coach Leo has been there and here they are now with only 8 games played, already past their win total last year. Yes guys like Lozada, Manyara, stinnet have been added to their depth but this is basically the same team as last year. So what's different? I think thats experience. You just cant teach that. They have one of the best coaches in the land and yet he could not teach his boys how to play the right way. They had to learn it on their own. As you said, they've been great in 4th quarters and yet last year they could not finish a game. Thats experience for you. The same experience that made admu beat UE in the 1st round, that made feu beat dlsu. Thats why teams like NU or UP have not performed up to expectations and why a system as good as of DLSU still can not beat teams like ADU and FEU.
ReplyDeleteyeah. its basically the same team. but camson has been playing out of his mind. hes really such a matchup problem for other teams.
ReplyDeletemanyara and stinnett are the key additions but these two have combined for just 8 points and 7 rebounds. that surprised me, cause i remember watching a preseason game, filoil i think, where the falcons beat the blue eagles. manyara played pretty well there but it hasnt translated to much in the season.
experience, yes. but also development. a player could be vastly different as a freshman and as a junior. you expect guys to get better. and these falcons just got better. save maybe for colina (who had a great season last year) and galinato.
plus, didnt nuyles get injured last year. i kind of remember him dislocating his shoulder during a game and missed out a bunch of games.
It's now a three-team race for the top spot and the probability of facing La Salle in the Final Four.
ReplyDeleteyeah, dude. the win over FEU is huge. because now the falcons have an easier schedule than ateneo the rest of the way.
ReplyDeleteits going to be a wild finish at the top this season.